Fly 1981
Not too sure which airlines regard it so highly, some actual dislike it because we have all done things on contract which definetly do not fit in with the mindset of airlines, also the distinct lack of a set of well thought out SOP's is a disadvantage.
Also, with reference to your statement, 'Getting onto an aircraft like a 737 with low time has its pro's and con's, The number one con is your time to command will be increased drastically!!!!'
That is just not true, for example with Ryan Air or EasyJet, you will do the maximum 900 hours a year, so, with 200 hours, you might be looking at command on a B737 in 3 years, thats not bad in my book.
In those same 3 years down the contract road, you may well end up with command on a King Air or a 1900, and as for the difference in salary, well the two are chalk and cheese!